As the sixth edition of the ICC World T20 dawns in two months' time, the two senior pros of Indian cricket - Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh - have been given a chance to prove their worth yet again.

| TNN | Updated: Jan 2, 2016, 09:53 IST

Highlights

• Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh have been given a chance to prove their worth yet again.

• The national selectors included them in the squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.

• Yuvraj last played for India in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 2014. Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. (TOI Photo)

KOCHI: It's a new year and a year of reckoning for two stalwarts from Punjab, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh. Over the years, both have played a hand in many an Indian win.
But as the sixth edition of the ICC World T20 dawns in two months' time, the two senior pros of Indian cricket have been given a chance to prove their worth yet again. The national selectors included them in the squad for the upcoming tour of Australia.

Harbhajan though will be peeved at his exclusion from the Indian ODI squad despite a decent series against South Africa where he claimed six wickets from four games at an economy of 5.30. Yuvraj last played for India in the World T20 final against Sri Lanka in Dhaka in 2014. The southpaw scored a painstaking 11 from 21 balls and was largely held responsible for India's sluggish finish. He is even without an IPL team after being released by Delhi Daredevils.

The two have plenty to prove when they begin their preparations in what is likely to be a critical year in their cricket careers with the Syed Mushtaq Ali group engagements for Punjab beginning here in Kochi on Saturday.

Skipper Harbhajan though will miss Punjab's opener against Rajasthan. He will be arriving in Kochi only on Saturday morning after attending a family function, a Punjab Cricket Association official said. In his absence, Yuvraj will lead the side at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium.

India are only playing three T20s in Australia and though they have made it to the Indian T20 squad breaking into the playing XI wouldn't be easy.

"Yuvi and Harbhajan are legends of Indian cricket. They obviously add strength to our team. Although they are in the Indian T20 side, this tournament is crucial for them too as a good performance here will certainly help them get back into the Indian ODI side too," said Punjab coach Arun Sharma.

The duo haven't done too badly in the current domestic season and that is what prompted the selectors to pick them in the T20 side against Australia, a team against which both have serious history.

"I watched Yuvraj bat recently and he seems to be in good shape. He is hitting the ball sweetly which I think is critical for a player like him. He can prepare for those games in Australia by playing in the Syed Mushtaq Ali matches and score runs which will help his confidence. Once that happens, a player of his stature should be included in the playing XI in Australia," said former India opener Lalchand Rajput, manager of the victorious World T20 Indian team in 2007.

But there are dissenting voices too. Off-spin great Erapalli Prasanna's is one of them. "I don't understand the logic in bringing back Harbhajan, Yuvraj and even Ashish Nehra. You have a superb off-spinner in Ashwin in your team. So how is Harbhajan going to fit into the playing XI? It would have been better to include a leg-spinner like Amit Mishra," he stressed.

more from times of india Sports

All Comments ()+^ Back to Top

Characters Remaining: 3000

Continue without login

or

Login from existing account

FacebookGoogleEmail

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Refrain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks, name calling or inciting hatred against any community. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines by marking them offensive. Let's work together to keep the conversation civil.